(S/E) From the front door, turn right along the main road, crossing Bleeding Wolf Lane and ignoring the turning to Moss Lane on the left. After 300 yards, turn right into The Spinney. Turn right at the first junction, then left at the second. Join a track into the wood beyond the gate after the last house and follow it downhill until you pass the end of Lawton Hall Pool.
(1) Immediately beyond the lake, turn right up a short slope onto a path that runs along the top of a valley with the stream below and to your right. Shortly beyond a projecting corner where the path bends abruptly left, turn right and descend steeply to the stream. Follow it downstream (left) to a footbridge. Turn left and climb out of the valley to a metal kissing gate, beyond which you cross a field towards the church.
(2) Follow the churchyard wall to the right. At a fence by a water trough, turn right towards the Trent & Mersey canal (a short diversion left gives access to the church). On reaching the canal, turn left along the towpath and pass under the A50 (bridge 135).
(3) Continue along the towpath for ¾ mile, passing locks 46, 45 and 44. Beyond the Canal & River Trust building and its cranes at Red Bull Wharf, pass under the A34 road and walk past Two Canals Walk (3 miles: Fairly easy) lock 43.
(4) Just before Pool Lock Aqueduct, climb the steps on your left to the Macclesfield Canal. For the shorter route, jump to step 21. For the longer walk, turn right over the aqueduct then cross the canal via a brick footbridge (bridge 96). Follow the towpath beyond, with the Macclesfield Canal now on your immediate right. After 600 yards, pass under bridge 97 and follow the towpath as it curves left to the bridge at the canal junction. Turn left along the towpath of the Trent & Mersey and pass lock 41.
(5) Turn right over the canal at the road, then turn left back onto the towpath, now with the canal on your left.
(4) After lock 42, pass under the aqueduct and climb the steps on your right up to the Macclesfield Canal. Turn left and cross another aqueduct, this time over the A50 road. After ¼ mile, pass under bridge 95.
(6) At the next bridge (96) leave the canal and turn left to the main road. Turn right and follow the A34 back to the Bleeding Wolf.(S/E)
